Centennial Park master plan update spotlights drainage redesign, bike‑park proposal and access concerns

City parks staff on Wednesday walked the Parks and Recreation Commission through 50% design materials and hydrology findings for the John D. Winter Centennial Park master plan and associated drainage and synthetic turf field designs, and sought commission feedback.

Parks Project Manager Nick Wentworth said the commission packet included three coordinated 50% plans — master plan, drainage design and synthetic turf field design — that were received only weeks earlier. He said the design team and staff must align locations of detention basins and other elements before the designs advance: “there are some elements of this that don't exactly line up yet,” he said.

Public engagement and survey results Staff reported 686 survey responses gathered from the public, stakeholders and user groups. Wentworth highlighted survey findings staff used to shape the conceptual plan: 84% of respondents supported a multi‑purpose athletic field; 87% supported locating multi‑purpose fields at Lower Centennial; and 62% supported an off‑leash dog park at Centennial. Wentworth said youth sports responses represented a large share of the survey turnout and that the consultant incorporated stakeholder feedback into the conceptual layout.

Drainage and detention design The design team’s hydrology work proposed multiple surface basins that would divert uphill runoff east of the softball fields to avoid installing an underground culvert under playing surfaces. Wentworth summarized the proposed storage as four basins with a combined storage of 5.31 acre‑feet, sized in the range of 10‑ to 25‑year storm volumes. He said the approach reduces the need to run a large pipe beneath fields and shifts runoff to basins and armored swales away from playing surfaces.

Access, parking and emergency egress Commissioners and staff discussed secondary access for large events and emergency response. The conceptual plan shows a potential maintenance/secondary access road that would traverse NDOT right‑of‑way and connect down to Fifth Street and the trail underpass beneath US‑395. Staff emphasized the need for a safe secondary route for emergency vehicles, but commissioners raised questions about paving, engineering constraints on widening near the mountain, and costs. Parks Director Jennifer Budge said the goal is to formalize an emergency access rather than depend on informal social trails: “We need to have a secondary access for emergencies… whether that may be a gated thing, whatever it's constructed of, but we have to have a secondary access.”

Bike park, user amenities and program details A bike park proposal — supported by the local nonprofit Muscle Powered — was included on the plan. Dan Thornton of Muscle Powered told the commission the group is not seeking city funds and “we are not asking for any funding. None. 0 for the building or the maintenance of this park. We will do it entirely with private money and foundations and grants.” Muscle Powered and its board president Chelsea Kinchlow said they would fund and maintain the facility if approved.

Fields, lights, storage and turf design Staff said the Lower Centennial concept would include multi‑use fields to accommodate football and several smaller soccer fields, larger parking capacity distributed across the complex to reduce congestion at single lots, a promenade with power and vendor access, restrooms and a playground. Commissioners asked whether multi‑use fields would include lighting; staff said lighting would likely be needed if the fields are to serve organized football and to host evening events. Staff also proposed storage buildings with multiple bays to avoid ad‑hoc sheds and shipping containers.

Tennis and synthetic turf Wentworth described drainage challenges near the upper softball complex and the tennis courts and noted earlier storm events in 2017, 2018 and spring 2023 that damaged fields. For tennis courts, staff proposed a 20+‑foot swale armored with riprap to divert water away from courts. Synthetic turf and field design remain under review; staff suggested windscreen and landscaping to reduce dust and maintenance demands.

Next steps Because the presentation was a 50% design review, the item was discussion only and no action was required. Staff will incorporate commission and stakeholder comments, refine basin sizing and align master plan, drainage and field designs for a future hearing.

Provenance The item was introduced as “discussion regarding the John D. Winter Centennial Park master plan update and drainage design project” (transcript block starting at 2034.895) and discussion concluded when staff closed public comment and the commission moved on (transcript block ending around 3969.34).

Ending Staff will return updated, aligned design sets after further engineering review and coordination with Public Works’ stormwater engineers and stakeholders.